10 March Helpline Q&A When experts are the subject of regulatory complaints Fitness to practice, regulator, 16. Criticism and Complaints, Professional Body Most professionals who act as expert witnesses are potentially subject to fitness to practice or other types of regulatory or professional body investigations. This can be extremely stressful and challenging even when the complaint appears to be vexatious or lacking in substance. So, we thought it would be helpful to offer a brief reminder of what you should do in such circumstances to ensure you meet your duties as an expert witness.
21 August Helpline Q&A Safeguarding concern following assessment Safeguarding I have a concern about someone I have completed an assessment of. What can I do?
3 July Helpline Q&A Should a solicitor use track changes on my expert report Questions to expert, track changes, 11. Report Writing, 08. Working with Instructing Parties, 12. Responding to questions The Board’s view is that tracked changes can blur the line between proper requests for clarification and attempts to edit the expert’s evidence. In our opinion, that line is much easier to maintain when feedback is given in a separate letter or email.
25 October Helpline Q&A Conflict of intererst / Issues of Confidentiality I've been approached to provide Expert Evidence for the Prosecution when I've already provided evidence for the defence.
25 September Helpline Q&A Support for Expert Witnesses with Dyslexia 01. Starting your Expert Witness Business, 11. Report Writing, 08. Working with Instructing Parties I have Dyslexia, what advice would you suggest to help with report writing?
21 May Helpline Q&A Availability for Court / annual leave 07. Receiving Instructions, Availability for Court, annual leave, holiday, 15. Giving Oral Evidence It is common in my practice that I have to provide dates of availability for Court listings. I plan my leave around 12-18 months in advance so that I can book trips etc but also leave adequate space available for Court listings. I am currently dealing with an instructing solicitor who is insisting that holidays / leave are not a reason to be unavailable for Court. They have quoted the case of Matthews v Tarmac.
15 March Helpline Q&A Reviewing our document/data retention policy GDPR, 01. Starting your Expert Witness Business, 10. Records Assessments and Site Visits, Assessments We are reviewing our document/data retention policy and how long we can or should hold on to client data. What should experts do in this area?
19 December Helpline Q&A When and how can an expert withdraw from a claim? expert witness practice, how to withdraw from a claim, when to withdraw from a claim, 03. Setting Fees and Getting Paid, 07. Receiving Instructions, 06. Rules and Regulations
25 August Helpline Q&A Claimant has turned into Litigant in person – do I have to attend court and how do I ensure I get paid? Litigants in person, Duty to the court, payment, 03. Setting Fees and Getting Paid, 08. Working with Instructing Parties, 13. Experts Discussions and Joint Statements, 15. Giving Oral Evidence
10 May Helpline Q&A Commissioning a report from a third party expert on one of the issues the Expert Witness has been instructed to consider Report drafting, Expert opinion, Limits of expert opinion, 07. Receiving Instructions, 06. Rules and Regulations, 11. Report Writing, 08. Working with Instructing Parties Is it acceptable for an Expert Witness to commission a report from a third party expert on one of the issues the Expert Witness has been instructed on and then use the third party expert opinion in their report?